Integrated Active Breaks Improve Discomfort, Cervicoscapular Electromyographic Responses, and Typing Performance in Computer Users at Risk of Neck Pain: A Randomized Crossover Trial

Neck–shoulder disorders are common among computer users, yet the effects of integrated active breaks (IABs) on discomfort, electromyographic (EMG) responses, and typing performance remain unclear. This randomized crossover trial compared neck–shoulder discomfort, cervicoscapular EMG responses quantified using normalized median frequency (NMF), and typing performance among IABs, passive breaks (PBs), and uninterrupted computer work at prespecified measurement time points in computer users at risk of neck pain. Thirty-six eligible participants (50% female) completed three randomized 62 min typing sessions: (1) IABs, comprising two 1 min active breaks every 20 min; (2) PBs of identical duration; and (3) uninterrupted computer work (control group (CG)). Neck–shoulder discomfort and bilateral cervicoscapular muscle NMF were assessed throughout the measurement sessions, and typing performance was determined during active typing time. Neck–shoulder discomfort and NMF differed significantly across conditions and measurement time points (p < 0.05). NMF showed a significant overall decline over time (p < 0.05), while both IABs and PBs attenuated this decline compared with uninterrupted computer work (p < 0.05). IABs showed higher NMF values than PBs at several prespecified measurement time points, although changes in NMF across break intervals did not differ significantly between the two break conditions (p > 0.05). An IAB was also associated with lower neck–shoulder discomfort and higher typing performance at selected time points compared with the other conditions (p < 0.05). A brief IAB every 20 min was associated with lower neck–shoulder discomfort and differences in cervicoscapular NMF responses at selected time points during standardized computer work. Further investigation in real-world workplace settings is warranted.